Media Resources Center
This location is available by appointment only. For help, see the Visit section.
The Media Resources Center (MRC), in Doe Library, provides teaching and research access to streaming and physical audiovisual formats, across broad interdisciplinary interests. The MRC is a renowned access point for scarcely held social issues documentaries and works by independent filmmakers. The collection includes documentaries and feature films; dramatic performances; literary adaptations; speeches; campus lectures and events; commercials and newsreels. To plan your visit, please see our access and use guidelines.
This library is wheelchair accessible.
Hours
| Location | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Resources Center monthly calendar | Closed | By appointment | By appointment | By appointment | By appointment | By appointment | Closed |
At this library
Research guides
Services
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Use online tools or connect with a librarian to achieve your research goals.
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The UC Berkeley Library provides special assistance to Library users with disabilities as they engage with the Library and its resources.
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Make use of the printing and scanning options available at most library locations.
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ereserves@lists.berkeley.edu
Access articles, books, and other course materials placed on reserve by instructors.
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510-642-9255 (642-WALK)
Arrange free night-safety services, including a walking escort to get you home safely.
Contact
Location
190 Doe Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
This library is wheelchair accessible.
Explore the Media Resources Center
Visit
The Media Resources Center is available by appointment to UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff with Cal IDs. Research access can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
UC Berkeley students
Materials in the Media Resources Center collection may be used on-site in MRC by current UC Berkeley students. Materials may not be checked out for home use by students or non-teaching staff. Students wishing to use MRC materials for classroom presentations should arrange with the course instructor to reserve these items in advance.
MRC materials are not available for extracurricular screenings by student or community groups.
DeCal classes: Information for DeCal facilitators.
UC Berkeley faculty and graduate student instructors
Current UC Berkeley faculty and graduate student instructors may make a reservation to borrow materials for same-day classroom use on the Berkeley campus, or for overnight previewing.
To make reservations
- Email: avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu
- In person: Visit the Media Resources Center, 190 Doe Library
- Phone: 510-642-8197
Overnight circulation of certain materials may be restricted, depending on the current demand for the material or the rarity and physical condition of the item. Requests for limited exceptions to these policies should be directed to our circulation supervisors at avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Materials in the Media Resources Center may not be used off campus. Use of MRC collections in extracurricular academic programs and events must be arranged in advance with our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu). Most MRC materials cannot legally be used for screenings other than those held in connection with face-to-face classroom teaching, in credit-bearing courses.
Non-Berkeley individuals
Individuals not affiliated with UC Berkeley may be granted one-day use of the Media Resources Center for valid research purposes by contacting our circulation supervisors (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu). Permission to use the MRC depends on the nature and availability of the desired materials, and the availability of viewing stations. Permission to use the MRC is not generally granted for viewing popular or widely accessible titles, including those available online, or at local video stores.
Berkeley Extension, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley City College
Faculty teaching Berkeley Extension classes that are also credit-bearing on the UC Berkeley campus (cross-listed in the UC Berkeley course catalog), have the same privileges as regular UC Berkeley teaching staff. MRC materials are never made available for use in non-credit-bearing Berkeley Extension classes.
MRC collections and facilities are not available for use in courses offered by the Graduate Theological Union or Berkeley City College.
Interlibrary Loan
Media Resources Center materials are selectively made available for borrowing by other UC campuses, based on rarity of the requested item and its current use on the Berkeley campus. Materials in the MRC collection are not available for borrowing by institutions outside of the University of California System. Requests to borrow MRC materials should be made through the interlibrary loan/borrowing departments of the requestor's campus library.
Requesting Media Resources Center materials from storage (NRLF)
A large number of materials in older formats, such as VHS, and lesser-used titles in the Media Resources Center collection, are stored off campus at the Northern Library Regional Facility (NRLF).
MRC materials stored at NRLF
- Are included in UC Library Search.
- May not be requested via UC Library Search.
- May be viewed in the MRC or in UC Berkeley classrooms.
- Must be requested in-person at the MRC Circulation Desk.
- Are generally available in MRC in three to five working days.
Commercial use of Media Resources Center materials
The majority of materials in the Media Resources Center collection are acquired from commercial sources. Most of these materials are under current copyright. Because the library does not own rights to these materials we cannot legally copy or redistribute them, even if they are no longer available for purchase commercially. MRC staff can often provide information regarding sources for purchase of materials in the collection. For distribution information, email avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Use of MRC’s viewing stations
The Media Resources Center has individual viewing stations that support research viewings of physical media formats (including BluRay, DVD, VHS, and audio cassettes, with other legacy playback equipment potentially available upon request).
UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff may make an appointment to view either library or personal physical media. Research access for non-UCB affiliates can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Borrow
Use UC Library Search to find physical media (BluRay, DVD, VHS, and audiocasettes). Please see our streaming guide for streaming media brought to you by the UC Berkeley Library.
The Media Resources Center is available by appointment to UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff with Cal IDs. Research access can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.
Resources for DeCals
DeCal facilitators must have authorization from their faculty sponsor on file for the current semester at the Media Resources Center before reserving or checking out materials to show in their DeCal.
Faculty sponsors are asked to confirm via email to the MRC Operations Supervisor (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu) that the head facilitator (and any co-facilitators) are authorized to use media for the DeCal.
The DeCal facilitator must provide the following information via email to the MRC Operations Supervisor (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu):
- Course name (Department and #)
- The names of any co-instructors
- The time your class meets
- Your phone number
- The number of students in your class
Once DeCal facilitators receive confirmation from the MRC Operations Supervisor that the above information has been received, they may arrange to borrow materials for same-day classroom use on the Berkeley campus by email (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu), phone 510-642-8197, or in person.
Please reserve materials at least three days in advance to ensure that they are available for your class meeting.
Please be advised that media is only to be taken out for same-day classroom showings on the Berkeley campus. Privileges to borrow materials for DeCal classroom showings will be revoked if media is not returned directly to the Media Resources Center during open hours on the date due.
Requests for limited exceptions to these policies should be directed to the MRC Operations Supervisor (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu or 510-642-8197)
Materials in the Media Resources Center may not be used off campus. Use of MRC collections in extracurricular academic programs and events must be arranged in advance with the MRC Operations Supervisor (avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu). Most MRC materials cannot legally be used for screenings other than those held in connection with face-to-face classroom teaching.
Viewing stations
The Media Resources Center has individual viewing stations that support research viewings of physical media formats (including BluRay, DVD, VHS, and audio cassettes, with other legacy playback equipment potentially available upon request).
UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff may make an appointment to view either library or personal physical media. Research access for non-UCB affiliates can be arranged by emailing avmccirc@library.berkeley.edu.